Liberal candidate Barb Desjardins
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
As Mayor, I was a strong proponent of utilizing the E&N corridor. Our government has commissioned a feasibility study. If elected as your MLA, I will spearhead this effort to ensure further action is taken. I know the business case, the economic arguments, and the community benefits. It is time to truly move forward. A solution can only be reached with Transit, the Ministry, local communities, and rail operators, all at the table.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
BC’s grade 10 students ranked 1st in the world for reading and 2nd for science in 2016’s PISA study. Ensuring we keep up such high standards while responding to greater need and population growth is vital. The need for forward-looking planning and funding allocation is imperative. We must work with School Districts and municipalities to better predict growth and respond to those needs by developing community-focused plans for the future.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
There are many big issues in our riding, and I wouldn’t put one over the other in terms of importance to people. Affordability is a significant concern in Esquimalt, and all communities have concerns regarding healthcare access and doctor availability. However, the most common issue I hear about on the doorsteps would have to be traffic and transit. The stresses of getting around detract from the quality of life out here on the Westshore.
NDP candidate Mitzi Dean
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
The Christy Clark government has failed for years to deliver a comprehensive transit vision for the Victoria area. My community needs more buses, commuter rail on the E & N corridor, and rapid transit to get people moving again. Bus routes would need to be reconfigured to tie in to stations along the E & N corridor. We will partner with the federal government and municipalities on new buses, rapid and frequent bus networks, dedicated transit lanes and major increases in service hours.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
After 16 years of BC Liberal neglect, it is time to examine our school funding formula to ensure it meets the needs of children and communities. A BC NDP government is committed to a comprehensive review of BC’s current K-12 funding formula to move BC’s school system to a better, stable and sustainable model for investing in education and away Christy Clark’s current per-pupil funding model. We will expand the schools as needed with made-in-BC manufactured wood products.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
The housing affordability crisis. Many people I speak with are working really hard, and yet they are forced into unsafe, overcrowded and insecure housing. Seniors are choosing between having the heating on or getting their groceries. Others are choosing not to pay hydro. Government must make better choices to help ensure that citizens have stable and safe places to live.
Green Party candidate Andy MacKinnon
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting into the South Island transportation plan?
The E&N corridor is an important component of any South Island Transportation plan. CRD is considering how it might best be utilized locally … e.g., within parts of our riding. But the rail line has to be part of a larger solution that includes commuter trains to Victoria from at least as far away as Duncan, to ease Malahat traffic, reduce GHGs, and provide an alternate emergency access to portions of the Malahat when that vital artery is blocked. The provincial government should provide financial support for this sort of initiative.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
The Green Party has a fully-costed program of life-long learning available on their website at bcgreens.ca. More resources are required. The Green Party proposes: ncreasing funding for our public education system over four years from $250 million to $1.5 billion; investing $35 million into public education learning-readiness initiatives such as meal programs; and providing $140 million over three years to train teachers to effectively deliver the new K-12 curriculum.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
The two issues I’m hearing the most about on the doorstep are transportation and affordable housing. For transportation, we need to unclog our highways with increased support for existing and new forms of public transit. For affordable housing, the Green Party proposes to: introduce measures to eliminate money laundering and property speculation; implement a provincial housing plan for affordable rental accommodation; and invest up to $750 million per year to create approximately 4,000 units of affordable housing per year
Independent candidate DelMar Martay
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
A: We need rail, no doubt. But some of the reports I’ve read indicate a investment of close to $700 million. And some survey info is from almost 10 years ago. I would need to do more hands on research Solar trains to reduce carbon, and bike ways along the improved rail lines..
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
A: By implementing my Solution for Responsible Government. This Vaccine for Poverty that I have created using proven technologies and methods, will use a new British Columbia Electronic Credit system to facilitate trade within the Ministries and Social Services. Freeing up cash that goes back into the economy, generating sales tax revenue. Our current systems has holes, my Solution fills them. Paving the way for a smoother Future.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
A: The people I have talked to are concerned about having a Family doctor after the one they have retires. In a couple of years many, many families will be without. It take 8 to 11 years to ‘make’ a General Practitioner. The previous government dropped the medicine ball on this one. Also, traffic and City development encroaching on rural areas. My Solution helps people by giving more time, for their life and health.
Communist Party of B.C. candidate Tyson Standlund
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting into the South Island transportation plan?
The Communist Party is calling for the restoration of BC Rail under public and democratic ownership and control, and significant investments in alternative forms of transit. I believe the E&N Railway should be rebuilt and managed by BC Rail in order to provide an appealing alternative that both saves people time by alleviating traffic and also reduces our overall carbon footprint. The construction, operation and maintenance of the rail would also create jobs.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth of the West Shore?
My party would fund public education on a needs basis, including for all special needs and ESL students. We need to raise annual public school education spending by $500 million province wide, an increase of $1000 per student, just to reach the Canadian average. I would advocate for increases to public education funding in the legislature, as well as demand an end to provincial funding and tax breaks for private and religious schools.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
People are working harder than ever and are struggling to pay the bills. My party would support labour/student demands for a $15 minimum wage, (or push for $20 if they wanted,) raise Income Assistance by 100%, and ensure an end to provincial sales tax on earnings under $40,000 per year. I would support taxation on home purchases by foreign buyers and investments in low income housing, as well as bans on property flipping and “renovictions.”
BC Libertarian Party candidate Josh Steffler
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting into the South Island transportation plan?
Light Rail Transit is sadly too expensive for our community. I believe we should be utilizing the E&N with bus/train hybrid vehicles. They dont need the expensive infrastructure and new rail tracks as they can also drive on roads. This would be an affordable fix we can utilize today, not after another 20 years of studies. The private sector could step in immediately to begin offering this service.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth of the West Shore?
We believe that parents are the best advocates for their children’s educational needs. Instead of funds going to each school district, each family with children will receive a voucher to spend at the public or independent school or home learning plan of their choice. Maintain provincial standards for core subjects such as math and English, but provide flexibility for schools (public, private, and home schools) to meet the diverse learning needs of children.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
High taxes is the issue I keep hearing both online and in the community. Families are paying more in taxes then on housing, food and clothing combined. People want to earn a decent wage and not have the majority of it clawed away by the government. We have an unsustainable level of government spending and we have an unsustainable level of public sector executive wages. People are not getting good value for their taxes.